Payroll Project Team Leader

• Employment Type: Full Time (35 hours per week)
• Duration: Continuing
• Remuneration: Level 8 from $127,351 - $143,489 (please note: salary range to increase July 2026) + 17% super + leave loading
• Location: UNSW Kensington Campus, NSW (hybrid)

About UNSW:

UNSW isn’t like other places you’ve worked. Yes, we’re a large organisation with a diverse and talented community; a community doing extraordinary things. Together, we are driven to be thoughtful, practical, and purposeful in all we do. Taking this combined approach is what makes our work matter. It’s the reason we’re one of the top 20 universities in the world and a member of Australia’s prestigious Group of Eight. If you want a career where you can thrive, be challenged and do meaningful work, you’re in the right place.

Why Your Role Matters:

At UNSW, we're committed to ensuring every employee is paid accurately, fairly and in line with legislative requirements. As Payroll Project Team Leader, you will play a pivotal role in strengthening payroll compliance, leading critical remediation and improvement initiatives, and helping to build sustainable pay confidence across the University.

Working closely with the Payroll Compliance Manager, you will lead a team of payroll specialists to deliver complex payroll projects, drive governance and reporting activities, and embed best-practice processes that support our people and our purpose. Your expertise will directly contribute to enhancing compliance, reducing risk, and creating a trusted payroll experience for employees across UNSW.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead payroll project activities, ensuring compliance objectives, reporting requirements and project milestones are delivered successfully.
• Manage complex payroll remediation activities, including claims processing, back-pay calculations and compliance-related adjustments.
• Drive payroll compliance through audits, monitoring activities and risk identification, implementing corrective actions where required.
• Build strong partnerships across Payroll, People & Culture, Employee Relations, Finance and Systems teams to support compliant and effective payroll outcomes.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives, including process enhancements, governance frameworks, system improvements and team capability development.
• Analyse payroll data and performance metrics to provide insights, recommendations and support informed decision-making.
• Provide expert advice on payroll legislation, compliance matters and escalated payroll enquiries.

Who You Are:

You are an experienced payroll professional with strong leadership skills, a passion for compliance, and the ability to navigate complex payroll challenges. You thrive in a collaborative environment, enjoy driving process improvements, and are committed to delivering accurate, compliant and employee-focused payroll outcomes.

You will bring:

• Relevant payroll qualifications or equivalent experience.
• Extensive knowledge of Australian payroll legislation and compliance requirements.
• Experience leading payroll compliance, remediation or payroll-related projects.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Proven ability to manage complex payroll issues and deliver practical solutions.
• Experience with PeopleSoft Payroll - Oracle  desirable
• Experience with HRIS platforms and Microsoft Office applications
• Intermediate to advance Excel skills
• Ability to evaluate and adopt emerging AI technologies to drive operational efficiency.
• Strong analytical skills, attention to detail and a commitment to continuous improvement.
• A high level of professionalism and discretion when handling sensitive information.

For further details on role responsibilities and skills & experience required, refer to the position description found under the position listing on Jobs@UNSW

Benefits and Culture:

People are at the core of everything we do. We recognise it is the contributions of our staff who make UNSW one of the best universities in Australia and the world.

Our benefits include:

• Flexible working options.
• Career development opportunities.
• 17% Superannuation contributions and additional leave loading payments.
• Additional 3 days of leave over Christmas period.
• Discounts and entitlements (retail, education, fitness).

For further details on the benefits, please visit https://www.jobs.unsw.edu.au/lifestyle-benefits

How to Apply: Submit your CV & Cover Letter by 11:55pm, 17^th June 2026

Please note: Sponsorship is not available for this role, valid Australian working rights are required on application.

Contact: Amy Denney a.denney@unsw.edu.au - Talent Acquisition Team
Please apply directly through the website, applications sent to the contact above will not be accepted.

Pre-Employment Checks 
Aligned with UNSW’s focus on cultivating a workplace defined by safety, ethical conduct, and strong integrity preferred candidates will be required to participate in a combination of pre-employment checks relevant to the role they have applied for.  

These pre-employment checks may include a combination of some of the following checks:  

• National and International Criminal history checks 
• Entitlement to work and ID checks 
• Working With Children Checks  
• Completion of a Gender-Based Violence Prevention Declaration  
• Verification of relevant qualifications 
• Verification of relevant professional membership  
• Employment history and reference checks 
• Financial responsibility assessments/checks. 
• Medical Checks and Assessments 
• Compliance with the necessary combination of these checks is a condition of employment at UNSW.

UNSW is committed to equity diversity and inclusion. Applications from women, people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those living with disabilities, members of the LGBTIQ+ community; and people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, are encouraged. UNSW provides workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options for eligible staff.

The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.